Nine-Army Battle Historical Park: A Look Back at History in Kanchanaburi

The Bear Team 3 min read

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It’s hardly surprising that relations between Myanmar and Thailand are still strained today, considering their history. The Burmese and Thais have been fighting with each other for as long as Thailand's history. To learn more about this, we recommend visiting a historic place when you are around Kanchanaburi.

The Nine-Army Battle Historical Park (aka The Nine-Army Battle Memorial Park) is on an old battlefield of ancient Kings of Siam and Burma in Kanchanaburi. From 1539 to 1855, it is surmised that Siam and Burma collided in two dozen wars. That is some war rate right there. No wonder neither nation has a good word to say about the other. 

If you want to learn and understand more about the history of the Nine-Army Battle Historical Park, read on about this must-visit place.

 Fun Fact!

The Nine-Army Battle Historical Park offers insight into Thai history, and visitors leave after learning so much about the past. They can learn from the drawings, maps, and memorial statues that contain the history of battles inside them. 

The Historical Park in the Past

The history of the Nine-Army Battle Historical Park in Kanchanaburi is mostly unknown and uncharted terrain for Western historians and travelers, which makes it one of the unique places to visit when discovering off-the-beaten-path sites in Thailand. It is a legend that the Burmese instigated most of the battles on the lands of the Mon people, which are today regarded as being on the Thai-Burmese border. 

The historical park commemorates the great battle fought under the command of King Rama I. He saved the country against the invading Burmese King Bodawpaya in 1795. It is now more commonly known by Thais as the Sonkram Kai Tap, which translates to ‘The Nine-Army Battle.’ The name is derived from nine Burmese army units that attacked Thailand from different places, where the great battle ensued. 

It is believed that over 70,000 Burmese soldiers lost their lives in just a few hours during the battle. An estimated 15,000 Thai soldiers were killed, and a vast majority of the 1,000 war elephants also died in the heat of the battle. It said corpses littered the fields and waterways, turning the river a bloody red. Over the years, calmer heads have prevailed. Since 1949, the wars between Thailand and Burma have stopped. But even today, you won’t hear Thai people have much good to say about the Burmese.

  Trivia!

Nearly 70,000 Burmese and 15,000 Thai soldiers gave their lives in the Nine-Army Battle. 

The Historical Park Today

The historical park is no longer a battlefield. It has become a park that bestows the region's ancient history with many exciting tourist features.

You can visit the park, learn about history, learn more about the battles from the past, and go away knowing more than when you arrived. Many detailed drawings, diagrams, maps, and videos graphically detail the region's history. 

  Did You Know?

This historical park was built to commemorate the great battle fought under the command of King Rama I in 1795. He saved the country against the invading Burmese King Bodawpaya.

Map & More Information 

The Nine-Army Battle Historical Park in Kanchanaburi was established in 1999 to celebrate the victory of King Rama I and the Thai Warriors, who defeated the Burmese Army in 1785. There is no entry fee, and visitors can learn about Thailand's historical battles from maps, drawings, and memorial statues.